The Memphis Grizzlies traded star point guard Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers on June 29, receiving forwards Kris Murray and Jerami Grant in return. This move marks a significant shift for both teams ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.
Morant, 24, spent his first seven seasons in Memphis after being drafted second overall in 2019. Over his 327 games with the Grizzlies, he posted averages of 22.4 points and 7.4 assists per game. Morant quickly rose to prominence, earning NBA Rookie of the Year honors and making consecutive All-Star appearances in 2022 and 2023. He also secured the Most Improved Player award in the 2021-22 season after averaging 27.4 points and 7.4 assists.
Despite his success, Morant’s time with Memphis was marked by a series of challenges. Injuries limited him to nine games in the 2023-24 season and 50 games in 2024-25. He was also suspended multiple times for off-court incidents, including social media videos in 2023 showing him brandishing firearms. This season, Morant faced a one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team following remarks directed at the coaching staff. He missed 62 games due to ankle, calf, and elbow injuries, playing his last game on January 21 before suffering a left elbow UCL sprain. During the 2025-26 season, he averaged 19.5 points and 28.5 minutes per game.
The Grizzlies acquired forward Kris Murray, 22, and forward Jerami Grant, 32, as part of the trade. Murray, drafted 23rd overall in 2023 out of Iowa, appeared in 57 games last season, averaging 5.8 points and 3.6 rebounds. Grant, a veteran NBA player since 2014, has been with Portland since the 2022-23 season and maintains career averages of 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game.
This trade follows Memphis’ earlier roster overhaul this year, including the February 3 trade of two-time All-Star Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz as part of an eight-player deal. That transaction also involved John Konchar, Jock Landale, and Vince Williams Jr. heading to Utah, with Memphis receiving Georges Niang, Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks, Walter Clayton Jr., and three future first-round draft picks in return.
Reports emerged in early January indicating the Grizzlies were open to trade discussions involving Morant, a reversal from statements made in February 2025 by general manager Zach Kleiman, who had previously insisted the team would not trade their star guard.
In the recent 2026 NBA draft held June 23-24, Memphis selected forward Cameron Boozer with the third overall pick, forward Karim Lopez at 21, and guard Richie Saunders at 32. The Grizzlies also acquired center Isaiah Stewart from the Detroit Pistons during the draft, signaling a continued commitment to reshaping the roster.
Morant’s trade to Portland concludes a turbulent yet impactful chapter in Memphis. The team now looks to build around its younger talents and new additions as it moves forward into the next phase of its development. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers gain a dynamic playmaker with the potential to revitalize their lineup.